Add parallel Print Page Options

20 So Moses took his wife and his sons, placed them on a donkey, and set out to return to the land of Egypt. Moses took the staff of God in his hand.

21 The Lord said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, make sure that you perform in the presence of Pharaoh all the wonders which I have put into your hand. However, I will make his heart hard,[a] and he will not let the people go. 22 You will then say to Pharaoh, ‘The Lord says: Israel is my son, my firstborn,

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 4:21 Exodus uses three words for hardening or hardness of heart. The most common one chazaq is translated harden. The other two, kabad and qashah, are translated unyielding and stubborn. The verbs seem interchangeable.

20 So Moses took his wife and sons,(A) put them on a donkey and started back to Egypt. And he took the staff(B) of God in his hand.

21 The Lord said to Moses, “When you return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders(C) I have given you the power to do. But I will harden his heart(D) so that he will not let the people go.(E) 22 Then say to Pharaoh, ‘This is what the Lord says: Israel is my firstborn son,(F)

Read full chapter